Westfall Township businesses oppose tax

Westfall Township supervisors briefly heard comments Tuesday on the proposed half-percent transaction tax on the sale of fireworks and the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Westfall Township supervisors briefly heard comments Tuesday on the proposed half-percent transaction tax on the sale of fireworks and the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Westfall Solicitor Robert Bernathy, who advises the board on most matters, was absent from the meeting, so supervisors decided to table the issue until the March 5 meeting.

Brian Shaub, owner of Keystone Fireworks, told supervisors he would welcome the opportunity to get together with supervisors to discuss options other than the transaction fee.

During a workshop last month, Bernathy said he met with a representative of Phantom Fireworks, a competitor of Keystone, about the tax and some needs Phantom had. Keystone had not been informed of that meeting.

Daniel Schwartz, owner of Smokers Choice, spoke against the proposed cigarette sales transaction tax. He is planning a renovation and expansion of his business just off Interstate 84.

If Westfall adopts a cigarette tax, Schwartz said he will stop the renovation project because the tax would kill his business.